Years ago, when AC Milan finally won the Scudetto in the 2021/22 season, which almost seems like a different life time, Sandro Tonali was touted as the new midfield general in Italian football and budding into one of the best registas in the game. But when Tonali moved to the Premier League and Newcastle United, while he was still solid and valued around Europe, it seemed like his growth had stagnated.
Now that he is in the prime of his career and bounced back from personal issues, Tonali has signed on to Tottenham to work with Roberto De Zerbi, a coach who believes in him like none other - not even his youth coaches or the now disgraced Stefano Pioli over in Milano.
It has taken Tonali a few weeks to get going, but steadily, he has played better and better for Spurs, starting with stalwart defensive work before adding more incisiveness to his passing. And he saved his best game for the Tottenham win over Coventry last Monday Night Football.
Sandro Tonali is becoming Roberto De Zerbi's gem
Tottenham Hotspur fans are beginning to see the start of Tonali budding into the general De Zerbi envisioned, and maybe, just maybe, the doubts about him meeting the 100 million pound price tag paid to Newcastle will be proven wrong sooner than Premier League pundits seem to think.
Chelsea present an interesting opportunity for Sandro Tonali and the Lilywhites. Chelsea have the veteran Premier Leaguer Jordan Henderson, suddenly resurgent against the odds and a man reborn in the middle of the park, as well as the best pure defensive midfielder around in Moises Caicedo.
It's time for Tottenham to watch their new midfield leader come of age for a second time in his career. He won the Serie A title as Milan's leader years ago, and now it is his time to do that in tougher circumstances in the Premier League.
Playing well in a draw with Manchester United and then bossing it against lowly Coventry is nice, but it's time for Tonali to be a 100 million pound player and show that first sign of reaching the elite level by leading Tottenham off the front foot against Chelsea. Being able to do that against a proven Premier League winner like Henderson and a world class No. 6 like Caicedo is something that should be asked of a player like Tonali. If he fails, so be it, but if he succeeds, it will be a beautiful first step.
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